Modi is India's brand ambassador, not Patanjali's: Ramdev

Yoga guru-turned-tycoon Baba Ramdev on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the brand ambassador of India and not his FMCG empire Patanjali.

A day after the prime minister inaugurated a research institute run by Patanjali Ayurveda in Uttarakhand's Haridwar, Ramdev refused to be drawn into questions on Modi's presence benefiting his brand, saying Modi was leader of all 125 crore Indians. Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, which Ramdev set up in 2006, has seen phenomenal growth in last few years, clocking a reported Rs 10,561 crore revenue in the year ended March 31, 2017.

"Prime Minister Modi does not endorse Patanjali brand anywhere. PM belongs to 125 crore Indians, does he not belong to Pantanjali? He is not Patanjali's brand ambassador, he is India's brand ambassador," Patanjali Ayurved's promoter Ramdev said.

When asked if Patanjali benefits from such perceptions, Ramdev said people are free to say anything they want and "I don't want to comment on it."